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The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association is always on the look out for the latest news and updates from the cabinet industry. Here's what's been happening the last two weeks:

NARI RECOGNIZES KCMA ONLINE COURSE

KCMA's online course is now recognized by another industry organization - the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. Remodelers/contractors working to become certified can now earn one continuing education unit (CEU) by completing KCMA's online course.

We look forward to continuing to expand the reach of our online course.

Last week the US Department of Commerce made an affirmative determination that China is circumventing antidumping and countervailing duty plywood orders by using face or back veneers of radiata or agathis pine with a TSCA VI label and made with interior resin systems. Commerce notified the US International Trade Commission to include these products in its antidumping and countervailing duty order. US Customs has now been directed to require cash deposits of estimated duties retroactive to September 18, 2018

We have reported a lot on the skills gap that exists today in the woodworking and manufacturing industries. Woodworking Network recently spoke with an Industrial Technology Teacher at a high school in Illinois for some ideas on how companies can start relationships with local students - a great avenue for grooming future talent and inspiring younger people to enter these industries.

Participate in the career and college day event at local high school

Host internships

Give online virtual tours of your business using Facebook live or other software

Give online webinars

Host online panel discussions

If manufacturers want to deal with the skills shortage in their communities, they'll have to get involved.

According to recent projections from Harvard University's Join Center for Housing Studies, annual gains in homeowner spending on improvements are expected to moderate across more than half of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas in 2019.

“Metros with cooling home prices and sales activity are not able to sustain the same pace of investment in home improvements as in recent years,” says Chris Herbert, Managing Director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies. “Our projections show especially pronounced slowing in markets such as San Antonio, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Dallas.”